On Wednesday, Russian singer Yulia Chicherina, who is known for her support of the self-proclaimed Luhansk and Donetsk republics in Eastern Ukraine, said that FIFA had prohibited her to perform in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don during the World Cup.

"FIFA is sure that every football event is a perfect opportunity to bring people closer together and strengthen mutual understanding. According to FIFA regulations, matches and related events must be politically neutral and should not be used by national associations, players, supporters or any other people as a platform for political statements," the press service said.